Written Answers Tuesday 4 July 2006

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Internet Services

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether the Parliament's internet filter software automatically classifies all websites with metatags relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues as pornography.

George Reid: The internet filter software utilised by the Scottish Parliament does not automatically classify all websites with metatags relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues as pornographic. The filtering technology uses several methods of text analysis, image analysis and linkage analysis to classify websites automatically. Even with the sophisticated analysis techniques used, there can be no guarantee that the filtering software will not wrongly categorise sites. If the member feels that a site has been incorrectly categorised, he is invited to contact the BIT helpdesk.